The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-13
THE OLD SEMINARY BOYS
They Bear Marks of Age, but Are Young
Enough to Play 0ld-Time Games.
Addresses by Rev. James Kemper, Teacher
Forty Years Ago. Calvin Fletcher. Mrs.
Moores and Others of the Old School.

The Marion County Seminary Boys, the
school days of some dating back fifty or more
years ago, held their ninth annual reunion at the
Exposition grounds yesterday. Among them
were many who have not passed the prime Of
life, but these, with their younger blood and
vigor, did not enjoy with more zest tho revival
of pastimes now almost forgotten in these days
Of base-b than the veterans. There was no
rigid observance of conventional restraints to
cool the ardor of the old-time seminar
ians 1t was taking one day out of the year to
be boys once more and through the welcomes
and greetings old friends extended to each other,
the bountiful dinner spread by the wives of the
boys, the speech-making in which many took
part, and the games of long ago in which the
old fellows showed that they had not lost their
skill in bull pen. Skinny and town-ball, every
minute was ono of enjoyment
Three generations were represented among
the one hundred people who enjoyed the re-
union. but the presence of none revived more
strongly tho recollectons Of the oldest boys
than that Of Rev. James s. Kemper. of South
Charleston, 0. He taught in the seminary from
38 to 40, and is the only surviving teacher of an
institution that was then known throughout the
State His visit to the city. with that Of his
two daughters was especially timed to give him
an opportunity of meeting once more his old
pupils Of fifty and forty years ago. Among
other visitors from a distance were Rev. A. M.
Atkins of Wabash. and Calvin Fletcher,
of Spencer, accompanied by his
two daughters OF the home people present
there were Fielding Beeler. Hannibal Taffe, B.
R. Sulgrove. George w. Sloan, Frank M.
Thayer, John FL. Orr, Gen. John Coburn and
wife, Henry Coburn and wife, Joseph K. English
and wife, Bishop Osborn. Alex Wood George P.
Anderson, Volney T. Malott, Col. Samuel Mer-
rlll, Martin Byrkert, Pleasant Griffith. Thomas
Chill and wife, Rev. VIM. Sickles, Ignatius
Brown, Edward E. Bassstt Benz F. Haugh and
wife, and others. Among the ladies present
were Mrs. Abraham Bird, Mrs. Sol Claypool,
Mrs Jane N. Ketcham, Mrs. Eliza r. Eckert,
Mrs j. S. Spann. Mrs. Martin Igoe, Mrs. John
P. Wood, Mrs. Foudray, Mrs. Julia Moores,
Mrs Eliza McReady and Miss Julia Bassett
While the boys and their wives and friends
were waiting for the dinner hour each had some
story 10 tell or incident to recall Of time when
life had not become troubled or its happiness
marred by sorrow misfortune. The school
boy experiences of the seminarians were like
those Of all boys the world over, but they were
none the less relished in the tell ng. When DIM
ner was ready tho diners found that the
ladies lad contributed . large share to the
material enjoyment of the occasion.
There were coffee and substantials, sweetmeats
and delicacies to tempt the appetite and please
the taste. After the cloths had been taken up
all went to the south room of the Exposition
building, where the speech making. the singing
and other exercises were gone through. By
right of age his long time service in the institu-
ton and his presence as guest, Rev. James s.
Kemper began the series of speeches. He told
of the old days, and, with great emotion, spoke
of the pleasure he had in meeting his pupils
once more. 1t was only saddened by the recol-
lection that death had claimed many whose
memories were held in the tenderest regard
Calvin Fletcher spoke in memory of General
EbeneZer Dumont, who was the first teacher in
the Seminary. That was back in "a, and tbs
ranks of the pupils of that year had been
thinned Only few remained, and fewer still
were present to relate the events of that time.
Miss Catherine Merrill, was to have delivered
address, bat she could not come. Her sister,
Mrs. Moores took her place on the programme
and read tribute to the memory of Mary Jane
Axtell, principal of the female acad-
Mrs. Moores said that Mary Jane
Axtell and her sister. Harriet, left
their home in Cortland, N. Y, fifty years ago.
then considered the far West, to establish fe-
male academy. "These ladies'" continued Mrs
Moores, ''were beautiful. modest, cultivated and
graceful Coming here to teach. they meant to
do their duty, and they did. The first building
occupied by the school was Washington
street.-The William Sanders block. Great at
had been allowed to leave the school-room pell-
neil. One of the first innovations the
requiring each girl she left her presence
to turn at the door, saying as she did
so, GOOD evening. Miss Axtell and young
ladies' This caused infinite amusement 1t did
not take much to set the girls off in those days.
Miss Axtelrs nature was very religious one.
In some things she narrow. She thought
all fiction immoral Miss Axtell taught in Indi-
annapolis ten years. Her health failed. and she
went to St Augustine, and there ended the
sweet life which had been devoted to the serv-
ice of others. Miss Harriet married and went
to live in Vlncennes. There in a short time she
died"
Among the members of the association two
deaths had occurred during the past year, one
that of VIM Sullivan, once q lecturer in the in
stitution. aud the other that of Sanford Nor
rs, pupil. These sad events were remembered
in the adoption of resolutions of regret. General
Coburn then spoke of the days when VIM. S.
Holiday and Rev. James S. Kemper were
teachers. Col Samuel Merrill, in a pleasing ad-
dress. remembered the time of DIR. Stafford.
Frank NJ Thayer referred to the teaching and
schoo-boy experiences under Professors Long
and Hibben. but the speech of Rev j. M. At
kinson relative to Josephus Cicero Worrall was
humor and pleasing anecdote. He also referred
to Mrs. Richmond and Sarah Smith
At the close of these exercises officers were
elected follows:
President-Col Samuel Merrill.
Viee-president-B. F. Haugh.
Secretary-George P. Anderson.
Treasurer-Ignatius Brown.
After a short speech from the retiring presi-
dent Henry Coburn, and the singing of a part
ing song, the boys went to the grounds where
the rest of the afternoon was spent in playing
bull. pen shiny and town ball The veterans
in these games opposed the younger men, and
in shiny excelled them. It was near dusk
wneu they separated to 60 their several ways